Just after midnight on Aug. 1, Minnesota became the 13th state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage. We live-blogged from the scenes of the state's first weddings.

Just after midnight on Aug. 1, Minnesota will become the 13th state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage. We're live-blogging from the scene of the state's first weddings in Minneapolis and St. Paul and will have reporters, photographers and videographers filing live updates late into the night.

The Minnesota Senate DFL posted this congratulations today to families celebrating the right to marry.

by Colleen Kelly8/1/2013 12:55:49 AM

"You are an inspiration to all of us. Thanks to you, we recognize today that love and commitment to each other should transcend race, class, religion, legal status, sexual orientation," said Minn. Sen. Patricia Torres Ray in a post on YouTube.

by Colleen Kelly8/1/2013 1:00:34 AM

Prepping for gay marriage at midnight at city hall #Minneapolis @startribune

Minneapolis City Hall Freedom to Marry event: Starting just before midnight, dozens of couples will be married by Mayor R.T. Rybak and Hennepin County judges. The ceremonies will be held in the City Hall rotunda and City Council chambers, with live music, cakes from Betty Crocker and a reception from 1 a.m.-6 a.m. at the nearby Hotel Minneapolis.

Mall of America Chapel of Love: At 12:01 a.m., a couple will marry at the mall's chapel.

Como Conservatory: There will be 10 weddings at the St. Paul site's Sunken Garden, starting at 12:01 a.m.

We'll have a team of reporters, photographers and videographers spread among these venues to capture the historic occasion.

by Colleen Kelly edited by Terry Sauer8/1/2013 1:24:08 AM

Here's a state-by-state look at same-sex marriage.

by Colleen Kelly8/1/2013 1:36:10 AM

While it won't be anything like Minneapolis City Hall's midnight wedding madness, St. Paul will put on its best floral display for its first same-sex wedding at midnight Wednesday.Jim Ragsdale reports from there.

by Colleen Kelly8/1/2013 1:41:23 AM

First comes love, then comes marriage ... then comes an all-night reception at the Hotel Minneapolis for 42 newlyweds and 500 or so of their family and friends. Jennifer Brooks reports from there.

"When we wake up tomorrow morning, the bells of freedom, sounding a lot like wedding bells, will be ringing Minnesota. We weep with joy." - Senator Scott Dibble, DFL-Mpls., helped champion the effort to allow same-sex couples in Minnesota to marry.

Here's an interesting look at the composition of same-sex households by county in Minnesota, according to the 2010 census.

by Colleen Kelly8/1/2013 2:52:03 AM

Gay couples who wed in Minnesota will gain access to the 1,138 federal legal advantages of marriage, and for most, these laws will save them tens of thousands of dollars over the decades. But marriage comes with a variety of financial implications, some of which are still being worked out.Econ reporter Adam Belz takes a look.